AP US Government & Politics

Executive Branch Review Chapter 7: The Presidency 1. What does the 22nd Amendment do? It sets the term limit for presidents (at 2 full terms). This was in response to FDR winning a fourth election. Describe the process of removing the president from office (impeachment). The President needs to be charged by the House of Representatives. They must determine if the charges are substantial enough for indictment. The Chief Justice conducts the trial, and the Senate acts as the jury.
2.

3. Define executive privilege and summarize the decision in U.S. v. Nixon (1974). Executive privilege is the Presidents right to keep secret communications that concern national security issues. More broadly, it allows the executive branch to resist certain actions that the legislative and judicial branches deem necessary. Nixon claimed that he didnt have to turn over his phone records, as it was protected by executive privilege. The Supreme Court allowed the seizure of Nixons records, at which point Nixon resigned. 4. What is the Presidential Succession Act? After the Vice President, who are the next three in the order of succession? The Presidential Succession Act outlines who are in line for the presidency should the President and Vice President become unable to complete his/her term. The Speaker of the House, President pro tempore and the Secretary of State are the next 3 in line. 5. What does the 25th Amendment state? The 25th Amendment states that the Vice President becomes President if the President cant fulfill his/her duties (this was true before, but was made official in this amendment). It also required a Vice President to be selected in the case that there was an opening (previously, the VP spot would be left vacant until the next election; this provision basically renders the Presidential Succession Act useless as there will always be a VP). 6. List four powers of the President, as described in the Constitution. The President receives foreign dignitaries, acts as the Commander-in-Chief, issues pardons and make nominations for offices. 7. What is an executive agreement and how does it differ from a treaty? An executive agreement is an agreement between the executive branch and another country. It cant overstep the Presidents constitutional powers or conflict with the Constitution. Unlike a treaty, it doesnt require or have the Senates approval. 8. What is a line-item veto? Is it used today, why or why not? A line-item veto is a veto of certain parts of a bill. It isnt used today, as it was deemed unconstitutional in Clinton v. New York. Congress would have to pass a bill or the Supreme Court would have to revise its Clinton decision in order for the line-item veto to be used again. 9. What are the main provisions of the War Powers Resolution? The President must notify Congress of commitment of troops to foreign areas within 48

hours of doing so. The President must pull said troops out within 60 days unless Congress declares war or approves a longer stay for the military. 10. What is the cabinet and what does it do? The Cabinet is a group of President-selected people who advise the President. It is made up of all the heads of the departments (Secretary of State, Chief of Staff, Director of the OMB, UN Ambassador, etc.) 11. List and explain three policymaking bodies of the Executive Office. The Executive Office was created to help the President execute his/her laws. The departments within the EO can be switched every administration, and help portray the Presidents agenda. Its more political than the Cabinet. Office of Management and Budget: The OMB helps the President make the national budget. They also evaluate the effectiveness of government programs. National Security Council: This group advises the President on foreign policy and national security. They help the President execute/enforce his/her decisions. Council of Economic Advisors: They advise the President on economic matters. 12. How is the White House staff different from the Executive Office staff? The White House staff deals with 13. Describe Neustadts theory on presidential leadership.

14. How does public opinion affect the effectiveness of a president? 15. Explain how executive orders and signing statements have expanded the power of the president. Chapter 8: Roots of the Federal Bureaucracy 16. What is the purpose of a bureaucracy?

17. What is the difference between patronage and the merit system?

18. Why was the Pendleton Act initiated? 19. Who are bureaucrats?

20. What are the four basic types of agencies in the federal bureaucracy? 1. 2.

3. 4. 21. Why was the Hatch Act initiated? 22. What are iron triangles? Give an example. 23. Define: a. administrative discretion b. rule making c. regulations 24. Describe two ways that each of the following holds the bureaucracy accountable: a. Congress b. President c. Judiciary

1. When the president delivers the State of the Union message annually, he is fulfilling his role as a. Commander in Chief. b. Chief Executive. c. Chief Diplomat d. Legislative Leader. e. Chief of Party. 2. Which of the following are formal constitutional requirements for becoming president? I. Male II. Southerner III. At least 35 years old IV. Natural-born U.S. citizen V. A resident of the U.S. for at least 14 years a. b. c. d. e. I only I + III I + III + IV + V III + IV + V V only

3. Presidents receive more support on legislation in Congress when a. the minority party offers stiff opposition. b. their party controls Congress. c. the House of Representatives is controlled by the presidents party. d. the U.S. Senate is controlled by the presidents party. e. they mention that legislation in the State of the Union message. 4. An advantage that bureaucrats in the federal government have over the policymaking process is that bureaucrats a. control the budgetary process. b. have an independence from the president that is guaranteed by the Constitution. c. find it easier to gather public support than does the president. d. usually have a continuity of service in the executive branch that the president lacks. e. usually have better access to the media than does the president. 5. The primary function of Americas federal bureaucracy is: a. oversight of the executive branch. b. Developing laws for review by Congress. c. Bringing cases to trial before the Supreme Court. d. Policy implementation. e. Interpreting the constitutionality of laws by the legislative branch.